Hood-latch



H. B. LINDSAY.

HOOD LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED -ov.5,1919.

Patented Feb. 8,1921.

17070 7 5v Z in 0170 y [N ENTOR A TTORNEX PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY IB. LINDSAY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

HOOD-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed November 5, 1919. Serial No. 335,913.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HARVEY B. :LINDSAY, citizen of the United States, residing at 2056 1st Savings Bank Building, Oakland,

in the county of Alameda. and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hood-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

vThis invention relates to an improved latch and-more particularly to a device of this character which is adapted forfasteningautomobile hoods.

One of the objects in the invention is to provide a fastener which can be operated more quickly and easier than the present type of fastener.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch which not only holds the side of the hood down but also holds it against the frame member of the machine, thereby avoiding any rattle or unpleasant noises.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device that separate lifting handles on the hood may be dispensed with,

95 the handle used on my improved latch serving both to operate the same, and to lift the hood.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrange- 'ments of parts herein illustrated and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims. i

Reference being had to the drawing form- 33 in a part oi this specification:

figure 1 is a view in front elevation of ray improved latch.

Fig. 2 is a view in section of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a m dified form of my improved device.

e to which is attached the vertical The side panel. of the hood is de oy 3, the iower edge only of which is all in its closed position.

improved latch consists of a bolt cylr l in which is sidably mounted the is a view in side elevation of a ce, 1 denotes a portion of an automobile bolt 5. As shown-in Fig. 2, the bolt cylinder has inwardly extending flanges 11 and 12 at the top and bottom respectively, thus providing guide openings for the bolt 5.

The bolt cylinder is provided with suitable lugs 6 by which it is attached to the outside of the panel 3, and the front of the cyl nder has an elongated opening 7 through which extends the stem of an operating handle 8. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this handle has an elliptical ring shaped portion from the back of which extends a stem 9. The latter passes through the opening 7, and is connected to the bolt 5 in any preferred 7 manner.

A coiled compression spring 10 surrounds the bolt, the bottom resting on the flange 12, and the top abutting agalnst the underside of stem.9. The lower end of bolt fii is bent upwardly to form a portion 14, which makes an acute angle'to the main portion of the bolt. The panel 3 has an elongated opening 15' through which this angular portion of Y the bolt extends.

The flange 2 has an opening 16 just back of the opening 15 and this opening 16 is preferably triangular in outline the point being uppermost. The metal which is cut from this opening, may be unsevered along the bottom edge, and be bent backwardly as shown at 17.

The modified form shown in Fig. 3 bas substantially the same construction with the exception thatthe bolt 5, where'it extends through the upper end of the bolt cylinder is provided with a curved loop 20 to form the handle, and within thecylinder apin 21 passes throughthe bolt to form'an abutmerit for the upper'end of the spring 10.

In the modification shown in Fig. ithe cylindrical casing is not used, the bolt 5 being slidably mounted in two brackets '22 which in turn are attached to the hood. Spring 10 shuts against the lower bracket and the pin 21 while the end which extends through the upper bracket is curved to form a handle 23. in all the forms illustrated the bolt is held from turning by the bent end which projects through the slot 15.

in the form shown in Fig. 5 a bracket, or clip 25 is provided having lugs 26 and 27 therefrom at the top and .bottom respectively. The upper lug 26 is provided with a hole 28 for the passage of the bolt vvhile 11 the lower lug has an open slot 29. Furthermore the outer ends of the lug 27 on each ice iiriwhich is seated a washer 31 and against which rests the lower end of spring 10.

In use two of these latches are generally fprovided, one on each end of 1 of the hood. When the, hood is the side panels closed as shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to raise the same, the handles 8 are grasped and pressed downwardly. This action causes the angular end 14 to move down against the edge of opening 16 or against the tongue 17. In either cases the movement causes the side panel 3 to move outwardly from the fiange 2. Thus, by the time the tip of the end 14 is out of the hole 16, the panel 3 has moved a sufficient distance away from the member 2, thatwhei 'a lifting of the hood takes place, this tip will not again reenter the opening.

Thus to open the hood it is only necessary to grasp a handle in each hand, to give a sharp downward movement and then to lift gether but which also tends upwardly. To latch the hood, it is lowered until it rests on the frame 1,when bya combined downward and inner pressure on the handles 8, the end of the angular portion of the bolt will, be caused to enter the opening 16. Then when the handles are released the spring will push the bolt upwardly causing the inner surface of the inclined portion to contact with the edge of opening 16. This action will exert a pressure which tends to pull the members 2 and 3 together. The triangular shape of' the opening 16 definitely locates the panel of the hood in longitudinal relations to the frame and thereby always holds it in its proper place. The end 14 being on an angle exerts a pressure which not only tends to pull the members 2 and 3 tober 3 tight against the frame or whatever other stop may be provided.

The form shown in Fig. 5 permits easy repairs in case the spring should break as in that case the washer 31 is lifted enough to clear the lips 30 and then the bolt may be moved out of the slot. The washer and spring can then be removed over the end 14 and a new spring substituted in the same manner.

This form has other valuable features from a manufacturing standpoint, and while I have shown the preferred embodiments of my invention it will be understood '1 do not limit myself to the forms shown but wish to cover all modifications ,within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and wish to cover by Letters Patent 1. A latch of the character described comprising in combination with a fixed member and a movable member having 's'lots adjacent each other, a boltslidably mounted in a to pull the mem-' longitudinal direction on said movable member, an operating handle, an end bent on said bolt at an acute angle thereto, and adapted to extend through said slots, and spring means for drawing said angular end into contact with the edge of the slot in said fixed member.

2. A latch comprising in combination with a fixed member and a movable member having openings which aline when said members are adjacent each other, a bolt slidably mounted on said movable member, an operating handle, spring means for-urging said .bolt in one direction, a hooked end on said bolt adapted to-extend'through said openings, and angularly disposed surfaces on said end adapted to exert a pressure to draw said members together when the bolt is moved in one direction and to separate them when the bolt is moved in the opposite direction.

3. A latch comprising two relatively movable members one of said members having an opening therein, a bolt slidably mounted on the other of said members, an end on said bolt adapted to project into said opening by contact-with opposite ends thereof to cause a lateral'movement between said members when said bolt is moved longitudinally.

5. A latch comprising two relatively movable members, one having an opening therein, a bolt slidably mounted on the other of said members, an operating handle connected therewith, an end on said bolt forming an acute angle to the line of movement ofsaid bolt and adapted to-enter said opening, a stop for the lower edge of the member on which the bolt is mounted, and spring means tending to hold said inclined end against the edge of said'opening so that the pressure exerted by said angular end tends to hold said members in contact and said member on which said bolt is mounted in contact with said stop. r

6.. A latch comprising a fixedmember, a member-movable with respect thereto, a bolt longitudinally movable of said movable member, a contact surface on the end of said bolt forming an acute angular recess between said surface and said bolt, an abutment on said fixed member for contact with said angular surface, and spring means for drawing 90 i and inclined surfaces on said end adapted to said incline surface and said abutment into engagement.

'7. A latch comprising a fixed member, a movable member, a stop to limit the movement of said movable member in a plane parallel to the face of said fixed member, a spring retracted bolt, opposed abutments on said fixed members, inclined surfaces on said bolt for cooperation with said abutments, said surfaces tending to hold said movable member in contact with said fixed member and said stop when the bolt is moved in one direction, and to separate said members when moved in the opposite direction.

8. A latch comprising in combination with two members one movable with respect to the other, a clip attached to one of said members, lugs extending outwardly from said clip, one of said lugs having an opening therein and the other having an open slot, a bolt slidably mounted in said opening and said slot, lips formed on the ends of the lug having said slot, a washer held on said lug by sald lips, an abutment on said bolt, a spring on said bolt interposed between said washer and said abutment, and an angular end onsaidbolt adapted to engage an openin on the other of said members.

n testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARVEY B. LINDSAY. 

